| OCR Text |
Show i Don't let Yule manage you 10 percent of your take home pay (mortgages excluded). She says many of the common Christmas overspending problems can be avoided by using sound shopping habits. This means allowing yourself enough time to find what you really want, compare prices and shop for sales. Last minute shopping often contributes to overspending, over-spending, Noyes says. "Time, as well as money is always in short supply during the holidays. Analyze each activity in light of the time and money that will be spent compared to the satisfaction it will deliver. Categorize activities into three lists - things you like to do, things you have to do and things you should do," Noyes says. She says to also consider your schedule in light of its effect on your family. For instance, in-stance, ask yourself if your jolly mood is more important to your family than whether your cookies are homemade or from the bakery. I Do you find yourself too exhausted from the preparations to enjoy Christmas day? Do you avoid the j mailbox dreading the j Christmas bills coming i in the first week of January? If so, you are 1 one of the millions of I Americans who overdo it at Christmas. :' According to Dr. Marilyn Noyes, extension ex-tension consumer ; specialist at Utah State ! University, many t consumers lose some of the joy of Christmas j amidst all the gift I buying and household ; preparations. "A good way to set ' your priorities may be to sit down and list I several things you remember most about ' past Christmases: You are unlikely to find things 'on your list such as receiving an electric fondue pot or having a clean house," Noyes says. In general, we spend too much time worrying about the things that really do not contribute to the traditions and joys of Christmas." She says when tempted temp-ted to overspend on. Christmas gifts, remember this: buying gifts on credit which you cannot repay within 30 days is like taking a loan at an 18-24 percent interest in-terest rate. Noyes says this type of overspending can push families over the brink of financial disaster. A rule of thumb is to keep your installment debt under |
